Apparatus for the removal one by one of bottle-caps from a stack and positioning them



o. J. BRUUN 3,099,120 s FOR THE REMOVAL ONE BY ONE OF BOTTLECAPS FROM ASTACK AND POSITIONING THEM July 30, 1963 APPARATU Filed March so, 1961 3SheetsSheet 1 IN VE N T03 0 rm Jamar/N55 Beau/v July 30, 1963 o. RUUN3,099,120

APPARATUS FOR THE REM ONE BY O OF BOTTLE-CAPS FROM ACK ITION A ST POSTHEM Filed March 50, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 30, 1963 o. J. BRUUN3,099,129

APPARATUS FOR THE REMOVAL ONE BY ONE OF BOTTLE-CAPS FROM A STACK ANDPOSITIONING THEM Filed March 50, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOE firmfifimvmss Beau United States Patent mark Filed Mar. 30, 1961, Ser. No.99,635 2 Claims. (Cl. 53-313) The present invention relates to a methodand an apparatus for the removal one by one of cup-shaped, conical capsof paper or thin metal foil with or without papercovering nested in astack and for the positioning of the removed caps one by one overbottlenecks or in a machine for additional processing.

It is a known art to separate conical caps one by one from a stack ofcaps by a blast of compressed air between the first and second caps ofthe stack, either so that the open ends of the cup-shaped caps faceforward or so that their closed ends are facing forward.

In the former case the cap will by the air-blast be carried in the sameposition with its open end downwards through a funnel directly over theneck of the passing bottle and down over the bottleneck. In the lattercase, in which the cap is blown from the stack with its closed endforwards, it will be necessary to turn the cap about 180 in order thatthe open end may face downwards towards the bottleneck, so that the capmay fall down over it. For the performance of this turning of the cap itis known to use a revolving mechanism.

The known apparatus suffer from the disadvantage that they do notoperate reliably at the high speeds today demanded from automaticcapping machines, and this disadvantage is due to three special causes.In the first place, the blowing of the cap down over the bottleneckcauses erratic eddies to be formed and makes the control of the capuncertain. In the second place, the revolving mechanism which has tocatch the blown out cap, to hold it during a turn of 180 and then todeliver it with its open end downwards over the bottleneck, is narrowlylimited with regard to speed and reliability of delivery. In the thirdplace, even the best bottles vary considerably in diameter, height andshape, so that it will frequently happen that a bottleneck will beoffset in relation to the cap whereafter the capping will fail.

It is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus for the fixingof bottle-caps of the kind stated at very great speed and with unfailingaccuracy.

The principle of the invention is as follows:

A stack of nested caps is placed in a channel having the closed ends ofthe caps pointing towards the take-out mechanism, and in known mannerthe first cap is removed by a blast of compressed air blown into thespace between it and the second cap. The channel holding the stack ofcaps may be inclined so that the stack will be carried forward bygravity as the caps are being removed, or the channel may be horizontalin which case the stack of caps will be carried forward by means of adrive mechanism, for instance an endless band at the bottom of thechannel carrying the stack forward by friction against the sides of thestack.

To make it possible to blow compressed air in between the first two capswhen they have smooth sidewalls resting snugly against each otherwithout air space between them, the invention provides for the use of anumber of thrust shoes circularly enclosing the stack of capsimmediately behind the edge of the open end of the first cap. Thesethrust-shoes are operated by compressed-air pistons and their motion issynchronized with the blowing-off of the first cap in the stack, so thatimmediately before the air-blast is released the thrust-shoes will bepressed in 3,099,12h Patented July 30, 1963 "ice against the projectingedge of the second cap with sufiicient force to dent the edge of thatcap slightly inwards. Thereby a space will be formed between theside-walls of the first and second caps permitting the air-blast toenter and blow off the first cap. As the caps are made of paper,paper-coated metal foil or thin metal foil of some resilience, the smalldents caused by the thrust-shoes will be straightened out automaticallywhen the pressure ceases and the cap becomes the first cap in the stack.

According to the invention the stack of caps rests against a rotatingdisc or shutter so formed that when it is turning on its axis it willalternately stop the stack and give h'ee passage for the blown-out cap.The shutter is synchronized 'with the air-blast, so that when the blastsets in there will be free passage for the first cap, whereupon theshutter will again stop the stack. This operation continues at a rapidrate.

The blown-off first cap passes through the opening in the shutter andthen through a short funnel into a guide channel so shaped that the capsherein will lie on top of each other side by side. The guide channel isvertical so that the caps will gravitate towards the stop at the bottomof the channel. The guide channel is curved according to the conicity ofthe caps so that while lying in the guide channel the caps will restagainst one another along the whole length of their sidewalls. Thechannel is of such length that the cap reaching the bottom stop duringthe passage has been turned in relation to its initial angle and nowassumes a position in which it may be struck on the inside by a passingbottleneck.

In this manner moving parts for the turning of the cap are eliminated,and as it is the bottleneck itself which impinges against the cap andcauses it to be carried down over the bottleneck, variations in diameterand shape of the bottles are of no importance.

The bottom stop for the caps in the guide channel is of such shape thatwhen a passing bottle impinges against the inside of the lowermost capand tries to pull it along, the cap will be released from the guidechannel, because resilient holders will yield to the pull of thebottleneck and release the cap which by its own weight will then dropdown over the bottleneck. At the same time the next cap will drop intoposition to be struck by the next bottleneck, and so on for each bottlecarried forward. One of the advantages according to the invention isthat no cap- 'VVfl'l be released unless a bottle has been carriedforward to receive and relieve it.

-It is also a great advantage that a number of caps always will bepresent in the guide channel, so that capping may continue withoutinterruption even if the blowing off of caps should be suspended for ashort period, for instance, when :a new stack is to be fed into theapparatus.

By operating the blow-off at a slightly quicker rate than the release ofcaps from the guide channel, the latter will always be kept filled sothat an adjustment of the supply of caps to the guide channel may becontrolled by a photo cell or an electrically operated feeler.

An embodiment of an apparatus according tothe invention is shown in thedrawing which, however, comprises only such parts of the apparatus asare of importance for the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the upper part of the apparatus in side elevation andvertical section,

FIG. 2 a section through line IIII in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 the same viewed at a downward angle from the left side in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 the lowermost part of the apparatus seen from the same side as inFIG. 1,

FIG. 5 a section through line V-V in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 the lowermost part of the apparatus in side elevation and withthe parts in a different position, and

FIG. 7 a section through line VII-VII in FIG. 6.

The appanatus consists in the main of a stack channel shown in FIG. 1 incombination with a compressed-air mechanism and of a guide channel withbottom stop and release mechanism, especially shown in FIG. 4. Theapparatus is mounted on a frame, of which the drawings in FIGS. 1 and 3show only the part .1 carrying the cornpressed-air mechanism, and FIG. 4the part 2 carrying the release mechanism and the guide channel.

The frame part 1 carries a cylindrical ring 3 in which is mounted anumber of compressed-air cylinders 12 containing spring-loaded pistons13 connected with the thrust-shoes 14 entering the blower ring.Cylinders 12 are interconnected by connecting pipes 16 and are throughpassages in the flange of the cylindrical ring connected with a pipe :15which is joined to a compressed-air source through .a valve, not shownin the-drawing, controlling the flow of air.

The cylinder ring 3 carries a blower-ring holder 7 on which is mounted astack channel 4 or" semi-cylindrical shape and arranged to support andguide a stack 5 of caps 6 nested together and placed therein. These capsare made of paper or thin metal foil and, as shown in FIG. 1, have askirt and a closed .top which in the position of the stack 5 showninFIG. 1 is facing downwards. 'Ihe blower-ring holder 7 carries also ablower-ring 8 with blast holes 9, which through air passages 10 and apassage 11 in the blower-ring holder 7 are connected with acompressed-air source through a valve controlling the air-flow but notshown in the drawing. The blast holes 9 debouch in known manner on theinside of the blower-ring '8 in such -a direction that the air-jets fromthe blast holes will be inclined inwards in relation to the axis of theblowerllllg.

On the frame in Way of the blower-ring a shutter 17 is mounted in mannernot shown in the drawing, which shutter is in the form of a plane discturnably mounted on an axle 18 resting in hearings on the frame, inmanner not shown in the drawing, and by transmission gears 19 conectedwith a drive-shaft 20, so that the shutter may be rotated.

In the embodiment shown the shutter 17 is provided with three openings21 situated between three webs so dimensioned that, as shown in FIG. 3,the openings and the webs during the rotation of the shutter willalternate in front of the mouth of the blower-ring 8. When a web is infront of the blower-ring it will form a bottom for the stack channel 4and ring 8'. A stack of caps in the channel will therefore rest with thetop of the lowermost cap against the shutter. When an opening 21 in theshutter is in front of the blower-ring, a cap from the stack may beblown through the shutter. The dimensions are so selected that the skirtof a cap standing on a web of the shutter in this manner will protrudeto the blast holes 9 just below the thrust-shoes 14. When these shoesare pressed inwards they will therefore not touch the first cap butpress against the next caps and thereby hold the whole stack in placewhile the first cap is being blown off.

The drive for the shutter 17 and the valves for the compressed-airsupply to blast-holes 9 and cylinders 12 are connected by a transmissiongear so that-compressed air will fiow to blast-holes 9 and cylinders 12for the advance of the thrust-shoes 14, while at the same time anopening 21 in the shutter 17 will pass the mouth of the blower-ring andgive free passage for the first cap when compressed air is blown throughthe blast-holes. At the same time the next caps will be depressed tosome extent so that there will be space for the compressed air topenetrate between the inside of the first cap and the outside of thesecond cap.

The thrust-shoes are actuated by springs 24- which cause the jaws to bedrawn back and release the stack when there is no air pressure incylinders 12.

On the opposite side of shutter 17 a funnel 22 is mounted, serving tocatch the cap blown ed the stack and carry it into the upper end of acurved guide channel 4 23 connected with the funnel. In this guidechannel the caps blown off the stack will rest side by side.

The guide channel extends from the funnel down to a bottom stop andrelease mechanism for the release one by one of the caps in the channelto bottles 25 which standing on a conveyor one by one advance past therelease mechanism.

The apparatus operrates in the manner that the stack of caps 5 is placedin the stack channel 4. The bottle 25 is carried past the releasemechanism at the lower end and takes the caps blown off the stack one ata time. A stack of caps lying in the stack channel will with the top endof the first cap rest for a moment against a web on the revolvingshutter 17. When an opening 21 in the shutter coincides with vtheblower-ring i), thrustshoes 14 will be pressed in against the second capin the stack, while at the same time air will be blown through the blastholes 9 and in under the first cap which will thus be blown out throughthe funnel into the curved guide channel.

The cap blown into the guide channel will drop down and settle .on :topof the other caps in the channel and gradually sink with them while atthe same time it will be turned so that close to the release mechanismits open end will be inclined downwards in direction towards the bottlesadvancing on the conveyor in the direction indicated by arrow '26, sothat the neck of one of the bottles will enter the opening of the capand slide in between jaws 2?. The space between the jaws is determinedby the diameter of the cap and the bottleneck and may be adjusted byvarying the space between stops 33 against which the rear ends 32 of thejaws impinge. Before the bottleneck reaches the cap it will impingeagainst catches 34 on jaws 29 and thereby swing the jaws outward againstthe pressure of springs 31. Thereby stops 30 will be carried so far outto the side that the cap which is now being struck by the bottleneckmay, without encountering resistance, be carried on by the bottle anddrop down over the bottleneck as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The lower rail27 of the guide channel must be located at such a level above the bottleconveyor that it can support the lowermost cap and at the same timeallow the bottle to pass. Rail 28 must be so shaped that it can supportthe top of the cap when the cap moves out between jaws 29. For thispurpose the lower end 35 of the top rail 28 is bent to horizontalposition so that it may support the cap during the release as shown inFIG. 6.

The invention is not confined to the embodiment shown and specified, andparticularly the release mechanism may be of a different design fromthat shown. In its construction the sole feature of importance is thatthe active stops are removed from stopping position by the catchesconnected with them being struck by the bottle before it impingesagainst the cap, so that the cap will practically be released when it isstruck by the bottle.

The apparatus has been specified for use in connection with the cappingof bottles 25, but instead the apparatus may be used in connection withother members to be supplied and acting in corresponding manner intransporting the caps one by one to additional processing machines, forinstance for the printing of style or decorations on the tops or skirtsof the caps.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the automatic removal, one by one, of conical caps ofpaper, paper-coated metal foil or thin metal foil from a stack of capspiled together, by the method of blowing the lowermost cap from thestack, which is placed in such a way that the top ends of the caps inthe stack are facing in the direction into which the caps are to beblown for being placed one by one over the necks of bottles passing theapparatus, comprising in combination: an inclined stack channel, acylindrical blower ring having an opening co-axial with the stackchannel and provided with blast holes along the inside narrowlysurrounding a stack of caps lying in the stack channel and serving toblow the caps one by one from the stack of caps, a rotatably mounted,plane shutter on an axle parallel to the axis of the stack channel andthe blower ring, Webs on the said shutter adapted to project below theopening in the blower ring and defining openings between the Webs topermit the caps to pass from the ring through the shutter, a funnel forcatching the blown off caps, a curved guide channel placed in a verticalplane and connected at its top end to said funnel for guiding andturning the caps moving downwards by gravity to a position in whichtheir top ends'are rearmost, and a release-mechanism placed at the lowerend of the guide channel and consisting of spring loaded stopsproiecting into the track of the caps in the guide channel and providedwith catches projecting into the track of bottles carried past therelease mechanism on a conveyor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising jaws placed in the blower ringat such distance above the shutter that in their innermost position theywill press against the outside of the second cap in the stack withouttouching the first cap.

Brinton Apr. 6, 1937 Drese Feb. 14, 1956

1. APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC REMOVAL, ONE BY ONE, OF CONICAL CAPS OFPAPER, PAPER-COATED METAL FOIL OR THIN METAL FOIL FROM A STACK OF CAPSPILED TOGETHER, BY THE METHOD OF BLOWING THE LOWERMOST CAP FROM THESTACK, WHICH IS PLACED IN SUCH A WAY THA THAT THE TOP ENDS OF THE CAPSIN THE STACK ARE FACING IN THEDIRECTION INTO WHICH THE CAPS ARE TO BEBLOWN FOR BEING PLACED ONE BY ONE OVER THE NECKS OF BOTTLES PASSING THEAPPARATUS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: AN INCLINED STACK CHANNEL, ACYLINDRICAL BLOWER RING HAVING AN OPENING CO-AXIAL WITH THE STACKCHANNEL AND PROVIDED WITH BLAST HOLES ALONG THE INISDE NARROWLYSURROUNDING A STACK OF CAPS LYING IN THE STACK CHANNEL AND SERVING TOBLOW THE CAPS ONE BY ONE FROM THE STACK OF CAPS, A ROTATABLY MOUNTED,PLANE SHUTTER ON AN AXLE PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE STACK CHANNEL ANDTHE BLOWER RING, WEBS ON THE SAID SHUTTER ADAPTED TO PROJECT BELOW THEOPENING IN THE BLOWER RING AND DEFINING OPENINGS BETWEEN THE WEBS TOPERMIT THE CAPS TO PASS FROM THE RING THROUGH THE SHUTTER, A FUNNEL FORCATCHING THE BLOWN OFF CAPS, A CURVED GUIDE CHANNEL PLACED IN A VERTICALPLANE AND CONNECTED AT ITS TOP END TO SAID FUNNEL FOR GUIDING ANDTURNING THE CAPS MOVING DOWNWARDS BY GRAVITY TO A POSITION IN WHICHTHEIR TOP ENDS ARE REARMOST AND A RELEASE-MECHANISM PLACED AT THE LOWEREND OF THE GUIDE CHANNEL AND CONSISTING OF SPRING LOADED STOPSPROJECTING INTO THE TRACK OF THE CAPS IN THE GUIDE CHANNEL AND PROVIDEDWITH CATCHES PROJECTING INTO THE TRACK OF BOTTLES CARRIED PAST THERELEASE MECHANISM ON A CONVEYOR.